r
hands, nay, even look at the white lady, and during
the whole of the interview he trembled so violently,
and looked so nervous, that we felt quite sorry for
him.
’Mtoko is a fine specimen of his race, lithe and
supple of limb, but more like a timid wild animal
than a man. As he sat before us he nervously peeled
a sweet potato with his battle-axe, and looked ill at
ease. Gradually, as the presents came out, his sinister
face relaxed, and in spite of himself became wreathed
with smiles. Spread out before him was an entire
uniform of the Cape Yeomanry,'helmet and all, with
two horsehair plumes. Then there were knives, and
looking-glasses, and handkerchiefs, and shirts, and
beads, and yards of limbo ; wealth, doubtless, of which
he had scarce dreamt, was now his. The impression
made on him was great. He was overcome with gratitude,
and after stepping aside for a few moments’ talk
with his head men, he told us that, as a return present,
a whole live bullock should be ours. Permission was
given to us to come and encamp under his kraal if
we liked. His apologies were profuse, and he even
ventured to touch the white lady’s hand ; and thus
ended this strange interview. Not wishing to uproot
ourselves again, we thanked him for his offer, and
said we preferred to remain where we were, but
would come up and visit him on the morrow.
Afterwards we learnt the cause of all ’Mtoko’s
nervousness. His father had died shortly after Mr.
Selous’s visit. The common belief was that he had
been bewitched ; naturally he thought that the white
lady had been sent purposely to cast a glamour over
him. He had been told how these white men are
ruled over by a woman, and,he thought Queen Victoria
had sent a humble representative of her sex to bring
about the same state of affairs in his country. Her
name was of course asked at the interview, and feeling
the flatness with which her English appellative
would be received, our interpreter promptly called
her ’Msinyate, ‘ the Home of the Buffaloes, to which
high-sounding name she answered for the rest of her
stay in ’Mtoko’s country.
The day was far spent when the chief left us, and
we took a stroll in the cool of the evening to a tiny
kraal, consisting only of three huts, about half a mile
from our camp. There was an air of prosperity
about the place which pleased us. The huts are
better built than elsewhere, and have porches. Their
granaries are wattled, and have very well thatched
roofs, and our reception was most cordial. They
spread mats for us to sit on. They brought us
monkey-nuts, tamarind, and other vegetables to eat,
and seemed to think themselves greatly honoured
by a visit from the white indunas who had brought
their chief such a fine present.
Next morning we walked up to visit ’Mtoko in his
kraal. The twenty huts which compose it are girt
around with a strong palisade. Each hut is large,
and has a porch. ’Mtoko and his head men were
seated on a rock in the midst of it with a wood fire
for lighting their pipes. One of the indunas had just
decorated his hair in splendid fashion, tying up his